The state has issued performance grades for the Levy County School District and the county's four high schools for the 2013-2014 school year – last year – and the news can be possibly confusing for parents who want to judge the quality of local schools.

Manatee deaths appear to be down last year compared to the record numbers reported by state officials in 2013.

As of December, 2014, 368 manatee deaths were reported for the year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. One-hundred-twenty-five of those deaths were labeled as undetermined. Manatee infant deaths accounted for 99 mortalities. Sixty-seven were the result of collisions with watercraft. Twenty-six were attributed to natural causes and 24 died due to cold stress.

Pepper busters Daniel Barrand, Richard Baker, Kit Lane, Roger McDaniels and Milli Chapell spent their holidays eradicating the colorful Brazilian pepper plant from the area. This hardy foreigner has come into the state and is considered an invasive plant as birds eat and spread its red berries.

The Cedar Key Commission is considering adopting a purchasing policy ― one that would set standards for buying, bidding and preference standards for local businesses.

Commissioner Royce Nelson said he got with City Attorney Norm Fugate to discuss a possible ordinance and Fugate provided him with a copy of an ordinance used by the City of Chiefland and he would like the commission to look it over.